US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, when asked during the daily briefing in Washington on Wednesday whether the US still views the May 2013 elections as largely free and fair, despite Khan's recent allegations, she said that view had not changed.
"Nothing has changed in our view," Psaki said of the May 2013 elections.
After the general elections, the US President and Secretary of State had congratulated the people of Pakistan on a successful election, which was considered as free and fair by the US administration at that point in time.
US embassy reopens
Psaki clarified that the US embassy in Islamabad was open and functional despite protesters protesters perched a few kilometers away near Pakistan Secretariat.
“As I understand in Pakistan, the protests have died down and things have calmed a bit in the streets”.
The Embassy had been closed and its staff, along with US citizens had been cautioned from moving around the capital.
The Foreign Office had on Tuesday said the government was taking all necessary precautions for the security of the foreign missions in Islamabad. However, it had cautioned staff of foreign embassies while moving around the city.
It, however, denied it had either received or issued advise to foreign missions to close.
COMMENTS (30)
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@Surprised: Haha, talk about being delusional...... Or beneficiary of the system?
If the above don't apply to you then for God's sake, please open your eyes. "kuch sharam kero"
Like it or lump it, USA and its western allies support Nawaz Sharif's government. In order to bring down a regime one must win support of USA and the west. Both IK and TUQ failed to do that whereas Nawaz Sharif has been brilliant in terms of foreign policy, he has full support of the west. USA will not support TUQ and IK for obvious reasons. What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger. This is exactly the case with Nawaz Sharif, he is more stronger now. Talking about China visit, if they are not visiting due to protests in Islamabad, Nawaz Sharif will go to China just like IMO's meeting. IMO did cancel the scheduled visit for the loan of $5bn but Isahaq Dar immediately arranged meeting with IMO in UAE and they got $550millions (1st tranche of $5bn). This was at the peak of protests. You see despite army's support of IK and TUQ, Nawaz Sharif is still the prime minister and army will not intervene by toppling NS. This is tragic for Pakistan as likes of NS and Zardari have stranglehold on Pakistan. IK & TUQ should now retire and enjoy their lives in UK and Canada respectively.
The biggest losers in last elections were PPP and ANP. The biggest winners were PML and PTI/IK who had a walkover in KPK and some other areas. However, the biggest losers have accepted their defeat because even if they were given a few more seats they still would lose. However, IK who has won more seats than ever in his life not accepting the results. IK in two decades did not win this many seats and would never win again as he is not present in Sindh and Baluchistan. The only way he can come to power is via backdoor. In a corrupt country dreaming of perfect elections is living in fool's Paradise. Let us get real.
Both IK and TUQ have failed to bring down Nawaz Sharif's government. It's high time both should retire now and enjoy rest of their lives in UK and Canada respectively. I am neutral analyst.
@Azmat: All these are allegations. The Judicial Commission is tasked to find out the truth. We should be patient to see the results. Until then the Government must continue and disrespect for State and its institution must not continue.
@Surprised: Why is all the evidence collected so far suggesting otherwise? Stuffing of ballot boxes, changing of results, bogus votes, multiple votes, printing of additional ballots for 5 divisons in punjab 2 days before the election. Even the post electipn scene , where those incharge of the rigging have been honored and given lucrative positions is clearly signalling rigging at industrial scales
Our own Parliament is saying that the elections were rigged but these US morons insist that they were free and fair!
My advice adopt of electoral model...please!
@Qandi Gul: Man up, and show that you deserve power. Dont try to be Mujeeb though. Its all about power lust btw. Isnt it? And forgot MQM? As long as they stayed armed, they did squat progress. But now, they have their hold in Karachi. @PM: Thats the problem actually. We did not do anything to nip the evil in the bud.
More you take side of NS more this will clear that he is your man/ your puppet and you were also involved in rigging
Wow guess the American masters did not come across Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar's statement in which he acknowledged that the lections were held with 60 to 70 thousand unverifiable votes in each constituency. Was Mr. Obama elected President with 60 to 70,000 unverifiable votes in each constituency Ms. Jen Psaki?
US has to do nothing with our politics. if they involve themselves, people would be right to say that NS govt was brought by them
Madam you do realize that the more YOU labour this point the more it seems like a lie.
Hahaha..... No need to butt in everyones business US
@PM:
Punjabis don't share power with the other ethnic groups. Stop hogging all the power.
@rahul: No, we are not servants but friends. Keep your jealousy to yourself. Haters like you cannot see the bright side. Get a life.
Now we can for sure say that the elections were rigged.
It like telling a servant,enough of drama get back to work.The separate & pure land has achieved a lot of success.
wow! insanity is not just problem of subcontinent it is prevailing in America as well... another illogical statement.....
@nkhan: Fair as per standards of Third World countries, which is fair enough to determine macro results.
@cheebz: Quite impossible. Show us how could the US rig elections???
Many Western countries, including the US and EU send observers to monitor elections, especially of the newly emerging democracies. The 2013 elections were monitored as per this practice. If the elections had gross irregularities, the Western observers would have pointed it out loud and clear. That they approved these to be by and large fair is quite a convincing evidence of their overall fairness. Even if some rigging took place in four or a few seats as alleged, even then the overall fairness of the election results is not open to question but for the sore losers.
Americans taught Pakistan how to rig elections, there is no democracy in USA either. two party system: they want same for Pakistan
The elections were monitored by outside independent reviewers except in those areas where the observers didn't consider safe - namely Karachi, Balochistan and FATA. If they said the election was OK then the USA would be hard pressed to say otherwise.
@Qandi Gul:
I'm getting sick and tired of your constant bashing of Punjabis. What did we ever do to you?
I see American hand in the rigging...
Blind
Just like the way there were mobile chemical laboratories in Iraq :) so the famous Presentation in UN.
Ok... Fair Election.... why dont USA adopt our free and fair election strategy in their next upcoming election.... Im pretty sure these free and fair election will change the history of USA....
ofcourse..US wants it puppet in power..
Punjabi establishment must be thrilled to hear that.
Yes, just like there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, Right??